UC-N 

II 


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BEING  SELECTIONS 

F^pj*\  THE 

DIVINE  COAEDY 

OF 

DANTE 

V  ITU  ILLVSflMTlONS  BY 
-IM^VJ^ET  «,HELtN  ."Ml  TL\NI> 


GIFT  or 

A.    F.    Morrison 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/adastrabeingseleOOdantrich 


GIFT  OP 


R     f ,      n-T  o  .2  ,2    .  To  ^ 


FROM    INFERNO 


The  Forest  of  Life 

The  Gate  of  Hell 

The  Noble  Castle  of  Philosophy 

Francesca  and  Paolo 

Fortune 

The  Oty  of  Unbelief 

The  Angel  at  the  Gate  of  Dis 


The  Harpies'  Wood 

Crete 

In  the  Arsenal 

The  Phcenix 

The  Fate  of  Ulysses 

The  Return  to  Earth 


PURGATORIO 


The  Shores  of  Purgatory 

The  Celestial  Pilot 

Manfredi 

sordello 

The  Happy  Valley 

Evening 

The  Guardians  of  the  Valley 

The  Ihree  Steps  of  Contrition, 

Penance,  and  Absolution 
The  Sculptures  on  the  Wall 
Pater  Noster 
Vana  Gloria 


The  Angel  of  Peace 

The  Smoky  Land 

The  New-made  Soul 

Statius 

The  Night's  Rest 

Action  and  Contemplation 

Virgil's  Farewell 

The  River  of  Regeneration 

The  Lady  of  the  Flowers 

The  Procession  of  the  Church 

Triumphant 
Beatrice 


MlO??5Ji 


PARADISO 


The  Ascent  to  Paradise 

PiCARDA 

Self-Confidence 

Ancient  Florence 

The  Prophecy  of  Dante's  Exile 

Vera  Fides 

The  Planets 

The  Golden  Stairway 


Rosa  Rosarum 

The  Holy  City 

The  White  Rose  of  Paradise 

Beatrice's  Farewell 

Gabriel 

Ave  Maria 

The  Beatific  Vision 


THE^FORESTiOr-LIlFE 


MIDWAY  upon  the  journey  of  our  life 
1  found  myself  within  a  forest  dark, 
For  the  straightforward  pathway  had  been  lost. 
Ah  me !  how  hard  a  thing  it  is  to  say 

What  was  this  forest  savage,  rough,  and  stem, 
Which  in  the  very  thought  renews  the  fear. 
So  bitter  is  it,  death  is  little  more. 


T' 


THROUGH  me  the  way  is  to  the  city  dolent ; 
Through  me  the  way  is  to  eternal  dole ; 
Through  me  the  way  among  the  people  lost. 
Justice  incited  my  sublime  Creator ; 

Created  me  divine  Omnipotence, 
The  highest  Wisdom  and  the  primal  Love. 
Before  me  there  were  no  created  things, 
Only  eteme,  and  1  eternal  last. 
All  hope  abandon,  ye  who  enter  in  !  " 
These  words  in  sombre  colour  1  beheld 

Written  upon  the  summit  of  a  gate. 


WE  came  unto  a  noble  castle's  foot, 
Seven  times  encompassed  with  lofty  walls, 

Defended  round  by  a  fair  rivulet ; 
This  we  passed  over  even  as  firm  ground ; 

Through  portals  seven  I  entered  with  these  Sages ; 

We  came  into  a  meadow  of  fresh  verdure. 
People  were  there  with  solemn  eyes  and  slow, 

Of  great  authority  in  their  countenance  ; 

They  spake  but  seldom,  and  with  gentle  voices. 
Thus  we  withdrew  ourselves  upon  one  side 

Into  an  opening  luminous  and  lofty, 

So  that  they  all  of  them  were  visible. 
There  opposite,  upon  the  green  enamel. 

Were  pointed  out  to  me  the  mighty  spirits, 

Whom  to  have  seen  1  felt  myself  exalted. 
I  saw  Electra  with  companions  many, 

'Mongst  whom  I  saw  both  Hector  and  /F.neas, 

Oesar  in  armour  with  gerfalcon  eyes ; 
I  saw  that  Brutus  who  drove  Tarquin  forth, 

Lucrctia,  Julia,  Marcia  and  Cornelia, 

And  saw  alone,  apart,  the  Saladin. 
When  1  had  lifted  up  my  brows  a  little, 

The  Master  I  beheld  of  those  who  know. 

Sit  with  his  philosophic  family. 
All  ga«  upon  him,  and  all  do  him  honour. 

There  I  beheld  both  Socrates  and  Plato, 

Who  nearer  him  before  the  others  stand ; 


I  cannot  all  of  them  portray  in  full, 

Because  so  drives  me  onward  the  long  theme, 
That  many  times  the  word  comes  short  of  fact. 

The  sixfold  company  in  two  divides ; 

Another  way  my  sapient  Guide  conducts  me 
Forth  from  the  quiet  to  the  air  that  trembles ; 

And  to  a  place  1  come  where  nothing  shines. 


And  as  the  cranes  go  chanting  forth  their  lays, 

Making  in  air  a  long  line  of  themselves, 

So  saw  1  coming,  uttering  lamentations, 
Shadows  borne  onward  by  the  aforesaid  stress. 

Helen  I  saw,  for  whom  so  many  ruthless 

Seasons  revolved ;  and  saw  the  great  Achilles, 
Who  at  the  last  hour  combated  with  Love. 
Paris  1  saw,  Tristan  ;  and  more  than  a  thousand 

Shades  did  he  name  and  point  out  with  his  finger 
Whom  Love  had  separated  from  our  life. 
After  that  1  had  listened  to  my  Teacher, 
Naming  the  dames  of  eld  and  cavaliers. 
Pity  prevailed,  and  1  was  nigh  bewildered. 
And  I  began :  "  O  Poet,  willingly 

Speak  would  1  to  those  two,  who  go  together. 
And  seem  upon  the  wind  to  be  so  light." 
And  he  to  me :  "  Thou  'It  mark,  when  they  shall  be 
Nearer  to  us ;  and  then  do  thou  implore  them 
By  love  which  leadeth  them,  and  they  will  come." 
Soon  as  the  wind  in  our  direction  sways  them. 
My  voice  uplift  1 :  "  O  ye  weary  souls ! 
Come  speak  to  us,  if  no  one  interdicts  it." 
As  turtle-doves,  called  onward  by  desire. 

With  open  and  steady  wings  to  the  sweet  nest 
Fly  through  the  air  by  their  volition  borne. 
So  came  they  from  the  band  where  Dido  is. 
Approaching  us  athwart  the  air  malign. 
So  strong  was  the  affectionate  appeal. 
"  O  living  creature  gracious  and  benignant. 
Who  visiting  goest  through  the  purple  air, 
Us,  who  have  stained  the  world  incarnadine, 
If  were  the  King  of  the  Universe  our  friend, 

We  would  pray  unto  Him  to  give  thee  peace. 
Since  thou  hast  pity  on  our  woe  perverse. 
Of  what  it  pleases  thee  to  hear  or  speak, 

That  will  we  hear,  and  we  will  speak  to  you. 
While  silent  is  the  wind,  as  it  is  now. 


Sitteth  the  city,  wherein  1  was  bom, 

Upon  the  sea-shore  where  the  Po  descends 
To  rest  in  peace  with  all  his  retinue. 

Love,  that  on  gentle  heart  doth  swiftly  seize, 
Seized  this  man  for  the  person  beautiful 
That  was  ta'en  from  me,  and  still  the  mode  offends  me. 

Love,  that  exempts  no  one  beloved  from  loving. 
Seized  me  with  pleasure  of  this  man  so  strongly. 
That,  as  thou  seest,  it  doth  not  yet  desert  me ; 

Love  has  conducted  us  unto  one  death ; 

Calna  waiteth  him  who  quenched  our  life ! " 
These  words  were  borne  along  from  them  to  us. 

As  soon  as  1  had  heard  those  souls  tormented, 
I  bowed  my  face,  and  so  long  held  it  down 
Until  the  Poet  said  to  me :  "  What  thinkest  ? " 

When  1  made  answer,  I  began :  "  Alas ! 

How  many  pleasant  thoughts,  how  much  desire. 
Conducted  these  unto  the  dolorous  pass." 

Then  unto  them  1  turned  me,  and  1  spake. 
And  1  began :  "  Thine  agonies,  Francesca, 
Sad  and  compassionate  to  weeping  make  me. 

But  tell  me,  at  the  time  of  those  sweet  sighs. 

By  what  and  in  what  manner  Love  conceded, 
That  you  should  know  your  dubious  desires .'  " 

And  she  to  me :  "  There  is  no  greater  sorrow 
Than  to  be  mindful  of  the  happy  time 
In  misery,  and  that  thy  Teacher  knows. 

But,  if  to  recognise  the  earliest  root 

Of  love  in  us  thou  hast  so  great  desire, 
I  will  do  even  as  he  who  weeps  and  speaks. 

One  day  we  reading  were  for  our  delight 

Of  Launcelot,  how  Love  did  him  enthrall. 
Alone  we  were  and  without  any  fear. 

Full  many  a  time  our  eyes  together  drew 

That  reading,  and  drove  the  colour  from  our  faces ; 
But  one  point  only  was  it  that  o'ercame  us. 

Whcnas  we  read  of  the  much-longed-for  smile 
Being  by  such  a  noble  lover  kissed. 
This  one,  who  ne'er  from  me  shall  be  divided, 


Kissed  me  upon  the  mouth  all  palpitatmg. 

Galeotto  was  the  book  and  he  who  wrote  it. 

That  day  no  farther  did  we  read  therein." 
And  all  the  while  one  spirit  uttered  this. 

The  other  one  did  weep  so,  that,  for  pity, 

I  swooned  away  as  if  I  had  been  dying. 
And  fell,  even  as  a  dead  body  falls. 


Now  will  I  have  thee  learn  my  judgment  of  her. 

He  whose  omniscience  everything  transcends 

The  heavens  created,  and  gave  who  should  guide  them, 
That  every  part  to  every  part  may  shine, 

Distributing  the  light  in  equal  measure ; 

He  in  like  manner  to  the  mundane  splendours 
Ordained  a  general  ministress  and  guide, 

That  she  might  change  at  times  the  empty  treasures 
From  race  to  race,  from  one  blood  to  another, 
Beyond  resistance  of  all  human  wisdom. 

Therefore  one  people  triumphs,  and  another 
Languishes,  in  pursuance  of  her  judgment, 
Which  hidden  is,  as  in  the  grass  a  serpent. 

Your  knowledge  has  no  counterstand  against  her ; 
She  makes  provision,  judges,  and  pursues 
Her  governance,  as  theirs  the  other  gods. 

Her  permutations  have  not  any  truce ; 
Necessity  makes  her  precipitate. 
So  often  Cometh  who  his  turn  obtains. 

And  this  is  she  who  is  so  crucified 

Even  by  those  who  ought  to  give  her  praise. 
Giving  her  blame  amiss,  and  bad  repute. 

But  she  is  blissful,  and  she  hears  it  not ; 

Among  the  other  primal  creatures  gladsome 
She  turns  her  sphere,  and  blissful  she  rejoices.' 


AND  now  there  came  across  the  tur- 
bid waves 
The  clangour  of  a  sound  with  terror 

fraught, 
Because  of  which  both  of  the  mar- 
gins trembled ; 
Not  otherwise  it  was  than  of  a  wind 
Impetuous  on  account  of  adverse 

heats, 
That  smites  the  forest,  and,  without 
restraint, 
lie  branches  rends,   beats  down,  and 
l>ear5  away ; 
Right  onward,  laden  with  dust,  it 

goes  superb. 
And  puts  to  flight  the  wild  beasts 
and  the  shepherds. 
More  than  a  thousand  ruined  souls  I  saw. 
Thus  fleeing  from  before  one  who 
on  foot 


^a^^-^ 


Was  passing  o'er  the  Styx  with  soles  unwet. 

From  ofif  his  face  he  fanned  that  unctuous  air, 
Waving  his  left  hand  oft  in  front  of  him, 
And  only  with  that  anguish  seemed  he  weary. 

Well  I  perceived  one  sent  from  Heaven  was  he, 
And  to  the  Master  turned ;  and  he  made  sign 
That  1  should  quiet  stand,  and  bow  before  him 

Ah  I  how  disdainful  he  appeared  to  me ! 

He  reached  the  gate,  and  with  a  little  rod 
He  opened  it,  for  there  was  no  resistance. 

Then  he  returned  along  the  miry  road. 

And  spake  no  word  to  us,  but  had  the  look 
Of  one  whom  other  care  constrains  and  goads. 


Broad  wings  have  they,  and  necks  and  faces  human, 
And  feet  with  claws,  and  their  great  beUies  fledged ; 
They  malce  lament  upon  the  wondrous  trees. 
I  heard  on  all  sides  lamentations  uttered, 

And  person  none  beheld  I  who  might  make  tiiem. 
Whence,  utterly  bewildered,  1  stood  still. 
I  think  he  thought  that  I  perhaps  might  think  \ 

So  many  voices  issued  through  those  trunks  : 

From  people  who  concealed  themselves  for  us ;  ; 

Therefore  the  Master  said :  "  If  thou  break  off  ! 

Some  little  spray  from  any  of  these  trees,  ; 

The  thoughts  thou  hast  will  wholly  be  made  vain."  ; 

Then  stretched  I  forth  my  hand  a  little  forward,  « 

And  plucked  a  branchlet  off  from  a  great  thorn ;  -j 

And  the  trunk  cried :  "  Why  dost  thou  mangle  me  ?  "  i 

After  it  had  become  embrowned  with  blood. 

It  recommenced  its  cry :  "  Why  dost  thou  rend  me .'  ■ 

Hast  thou  no  spirit  of  pity  whatsoever  ?  ; 

Men  once  we  were,  and  now  are  changed  to  trees."  ' 


FROM  bridge  to  bridge  thus,  speaking  other  things 
Of  which  my  comedy  cares  not  to  sing, 
We  came  along,  and  held  the  summit,  when 
We  halted  to  behold  another  fissure 

Of  Malebolge  and  vain  laments ; 

And  I  beheld  it  marvellously  dark. 
As  in  the  Arsenal  of  the  Venetians 

Boils  in  the  winter  the  tenacious  pitch 

To  smear  their  unsound  vessels  o'er  again, 
For  sail  they  cannot ;  and  instead  thereof 

One  makes  his  vessel  new,  and  one  recaulks 

The  ribs  of  that  which  many  a  voyage  has  made , 
One  hammers  at  the  prow,  one  at  the  stem  ; 

This  one  makes  oars,  and  that  one  cordage  twists ; 

Another  mends  the  mainsail  and  the  mizzen. 


ss525:s333S5::s:s:s5sss:::>s: 


sssss 


IN'THE-A^ENAL' 


J  P  VEN  thus  by  the  gjeat  sages 't  is  con- 

o  Cf     fessed 

^  The  phoenix  dies,  and   then  is  born 

o  again, 

J  When  it  approaches  its  five-hundredth 

o  year ; 

i  On  herb  and  grain  it  feeds  not  in  its  life, 

a  But   only  on  tears    of  incense    and 

i  amomum, 

o  And  nard  and  myrrh  are  its  lastwind- 

i  ing-sheet. 


JUL*  rATE*W*0r*m*VLY5SE5 


THEN  of  the  antique  flame  the  greater  horn, 
Murmuring,  began  to  wave  itself  about 
Even  as  a  flame  doth  which  the  wind  fatigues. 

Thereafterward,  the  summit  to  and  fro 

Moving  as  if  it  were  the  tongue  that  spake. 
It  uttered  forth  a  voice,  and  said :  "  When  1 

From  Circe  had  departed,  who  concealed  me 

More  than  a  year  there  near  unto  Gagta, 
Or  ever  yet  JEnezs  named  it  so. 

Nor  fondness  for  my  son,  nor  reverence 

For  my  old  father,  nor  the  due  affection 
Which  joyous  should  have  made  Penelope, 

Could  overcome  within  me  the  desire 

1  had  to  be  experienced  of  the  world, 
And  of  the  vice  and  virtue  of  mankind  ; 

But  I  put  forth  on  the  high  open  sea 

With  one  sole  ship,  and  that  small  company 
By  which  I  never  had  deserted  been. 

Both  of  the  shores  I  saw  as  far  as  Spain, 

Far  as  Morocco,  and  the  isle  of  Sardes, 
And  the  others  which  that  sea  bathes  round 
about. 

I  and  my  company  were  old  and  slow 

When  at  that  narrow  passage  we  arrived 
Where  Hercules  his  landmarks  set  as  signals. 

That  man  no  farther  onward  should  adventure. 

On  the  rijjht  hand  Ivhind  me  left  I  Seville, 
And  on  the  other  already  had  left  Ceuta. 


'  O  brothers,  who  amid  a  hundred  thousand 

Perils,'  1  said,  '  have  come  unto  the  West, 
To  this  so  inconsiderable  vigil 

Which  is  remaining  of  your  senses  still. 

Be  ye  unwilling  to  deny  the  knowledge, 
Following  the  sun,  of  the  unpeopled  world. 

Consider  ye  the  seed  from  which  ye  sprang ; 

Ye  were  not  made  to  live  like  unto  brutes. 
But  for  pursuit  of  virtue  and  of  knowledge.' 

So  eager  did  I  render  my  companions, 

With  this  brief  exhortation,  for  the  voyage. 
That  then  1  hardly  could  have  held  them  back. 

And  having  turned  our  stem  unto  the  morning. 

We  of  the  oars  made  wings  for  our  mad  flight, 
Evermore  gaining  on  tlie  larboard  side. 

Already  all  the  stars  of  the  other  pole 

The  night  beheld,  and  ours  so  very  low 
It  did  not  rise  above  the  ocean  floor. 

Five  times  rekindled  and  as  many  quenched 

Had  been  the  splendour  underneath  the  moon, 
Since  we  had  entered  into  the  deep  pass. 

When  there  appeared  to  us  a  mountain,  dim 

From  distance,  and  it  seemed  to  me  so  high 
As  I  had  never  any  one  beheld. 

Joyful  were  we,  and  soon  it  turned  to  weeping ; 
For  out  of  the  new  land  a  whirlwind  rose, 
And  smote  upon  the  fore  part  of  the  ship. 

Three  times  it  made  her  whirl  with  all  the  waters. 
At  the  fourth  time  it  made  the  stern  uplift. 
And  the  prow  downward  go,  as  pleased  Another, 

Until  the  sea  above  us  closed  again." 


PVl^A 


THE 


^  ^.  x4'i'4/ 


SHORES^ 


'\X,  '-  OF 
PV^ATO^ 


TO  run  o'er  better  waters  hoists  its  sail 
Tiie  little  vessel  of  my  genius  now, 
That  leaves  behind  itself  a  sea  so 
cruel ; 
And  of  that  second  kingdom  will  1  sing 
Wherein    the    human   spirit   doth 

purge  itself, 
And  to  ascend  to  heaven  becometh 
worthy. 
Sweet  colour  of  the  oriental  sapphire 
That  was  upgathered  in  the  cloud- 
less aspect 
Of  the  pure  air,  as  far  as  the  first 
circle, 
Unto  mine  eyes  did  recommence  delight 
Soon  as  1  issued  forth  from  the  dead 


Which  had  with  sadness  filled  mine 
eyes  and  breast. 


4'  .=^ 


fi^'u 


The  beauteous  planet  that  to  love  incites 
Was  making  all  the  orient  to  laugh, 
Veiling  the  Fishes  that  were  in  her  escort. 

To  the  right  hand  1  turned  and  fixed  my  mind 
Upon  the  other  pole,  and  saw  four  stars 
Ne'er  seen  before  save  by  the  primal  people. 
The  dawn  was  vanquishing  the  matin  hour 
Which  fled  before  it,  so  that  from  afar 
I  recognised  the  trembling  of  the  sea. 


of  morning, 
Ihrough  the   gross   vapours   Mars 

grows  tiery  red 
Down  in  the  West  upon  the  ocean 

tloor 
Appeared  to  me  — may  I  again  behold 

it!  — 
A  light  along    the  sea  so  swiftly 

coming, 
Its  motion  by  no  flight  of  wing  is 

equalled ; 
From  which  when  1  a  little  had  with- 
drawn 
Mine  eyes,  that  I  might   question 

my  Conductor, 
Again  I  saw  it  brighter  grown  and 

larger. 
Then  on  each  side  of  it  appeared  to  me 
I  knew  not    what  of   white,  and 

underneath  it 


THE^  CnLESTI  AL'  PlEST 


•WirfWo.^V^rV/: 


jjgj^^^ 


f-ib^.tl^'f^r-u/"'-* 


'■«.OWt'»;tl<yi'-Wj  ^y.« 


Little  by  little  there  came  forth  another. 
My  master  yet  had  uttered  not  a  word 

While  the  first  whiteness  into  wings  unfolded ; 

But  when  he  clearly  recognised  the  pilot, 
He  cried  :  "  Make  haste,  make  haste,  to  bow  the  knee  ! 

Behold  the  Angel  of  God  I  fold  thou  thy  hands  ! 

Henceforward  shalt  thou  see  such  officers ! 
See  how  he  scorneth  human  arguments. 

So  that  nor  oar  he  wants,  nor  other  sail 

Than  his  own  wings,  between  so  distant  shores. 
See  how  he  holds  them  pointed  up  to  heaven. 

Fanning  the  air  with  those  eternal  pinions. 

That  do  not  moult  themselves  like  mortal  hair !  " 
Then  as  still  nearer  and  more  near  us  came 

The  Bird  Divine,  more  radiant  he  appeared. 

So  that  near  by  the  eye  could  not  endure  him, 
But  down  1  cast  it ;  and  he  came  to  shore 

With  a  small  vessel,  very  swift  and  light. 

So  that  the  water  swallowed  naught  thereof. 
Upon  the  stern  stood  the  Celestial  Pilot ; 

Beatitude  seemed  written  in  his  face, 

And  more  than  a  hundred  spirits  sat  within. 
"  In  exitu  Israel  de  >Egypto  I " 

They  chanted  all  together  in  one  voice, 

With  whatso  in  that  psalm  is  after  written. 
Then  made  he  sign  of  holy  rood  upon  them, 

Whereat  all  cast  themselves  upon  the  shore, 

And  he  departed  swiftly  as  he  came. 


AND  one  of  them  began:  "  Whoe'er  thou 
art, 
Thus  going  turn  thine  e3es,  consider  well 
If  e'er  thou  saw  me  in  the  other  world." 
I  turned  me  tow'rds  him,  and  looked  at  him 
closely ; 
Blond  was  he,  beautiful,   and  of  noMe 

aspect. 
But  one  of  his  eyebrows  had  a  blow 
divided. 
When  with  humility  I  had  disclaimed 

E'er  having  seen  him,  "Now  behold!" 

he  said, 
And  showed  me  high  upon  his  breast  a 
wound. 
Then  said  he  with  a  smile  :  "  I  am  Manfredi." 


The  Indian  wood  resplendent  and  serene, 
Fresh  emerald  tiie  moment  it  is  broken 

By  herbage  and  by  tlowers  within  that  hollow 

Planted,  each  one  in  colour  would  be  vanquished, 
As  by  its  greater  vanquished  is  the  less. 

Nor  in  that  place  had  nature  painted  only, 

But  of  the  sweetness  of  a  thousand  odours 
Made  there  a  mingled  fragrance  and  unknown. 

"Salve  Regina,"  on  the  green  and  flowers 
There  seated,  singing,  spirits  1  beheld. 
Which  were  not  visible  outside  the  valley. 


^H)  ^MiMO 


TWAS  now  the  hour  that  tumeth  back  desire 
hi  those  who  sail  the  sea,  and  melts  the  heart, 
The  day  they  've  said  to  their  sweet  friends  farewell. 
And  the  new  pilgrim  penetrates  with  love, 
If  he  doth  hear  from  far  away  a  bell 
That  seemeth  to  deplore  the  dying  day. 


I  SAW  that  army  of  the  gentle-born 
Thereafterward  in  silence  upward  gaze, 
As  if  in  expectation,  pale  and  humble ; 
And  from  on  high  come  forth  and  down 
descend, 
1  saw  two  Angels  with  two  flaming 

swords. 
Truncated  and  deprived  of  their  points. 
Green  as  the  little  leaflets  just  now  bom 
Their  garments  were,  which,  by  their 

verdant  pinions 
Beaten  and  blown  abroad,  they  trailed 
behind. 
One  just  above  us  came  to  take  his  station, 
And  one   descended  to  the  opposite 

bank. 
So  that  the  people  were  contained  be- 
tween them. 
Clearly  in  them  discerned  1  the  blond  head ; 
But  in  their  faces  was  the  eye  bewil- 
dered. 
As  faculty  confounded  by  excess. 
"  From  Mary's  bosom  both  of  them  have 
come," 
Bordello  said,  "  as  guardians  of  the 
valley." 


W^*^  1 

/  -^"^ 

Along  the  three  stairs  upward  with  good  will 
Did  my  Conductor  draw  me  saying :  "  Ask 
Humbly  that  he  the  fastening  may  undo." 

Devoutly  at  the  holy  feet  1  cast  me, 

For  mercy's  sake  besought  that  he  would  open, 
But  first  upon  my  breast  three  times  I  smote. 


And  when  upon  their  hinges  were  turned  round 
The  swivels  of  that  consecrated  gate. 
Which  are  of  metal,  massive  and  sonorous. 

At  the  first  thunder-peal  I  turned  attentive, 

And  "  Te  Deum  laudamus "  seemed  to  hear 
In  voices  mingled  with  sweet  melody. 

Exactly  such  an  image  rendered  me 

That  which  1  heard,  as  we  are  wont  to  catch, 
When  people  singing  with  the  organ  stand ; 

For  now  we  hear,  and  now  hear  not,  the  words. 


TyEj&sjg 


HEN  I  perceived  the  embankment 
round  about 
To  be  of  marble  white,  and  so  adorned 
With  sculptures,  that  not  only  Poly- 

cletus. 
But  Nature's  self,  had  there  been  put  to 
shame. 
The  Angel,  who  came  down  to  earth  with  tidings 
Of  peace,  that  had  been  wept  for  many  a  year 
And  opened  Heaven  from  its  long  interdict. 
In  front  of  us  appeared  so  truthfully 

There  sculptured  in  a  gracious  attitude. 
He  did  not  seem  an  image  that  is  silent. 
One  would  have  sworn  that  he  was  saying  "  Ave ; ' 
For  she  was  there  in  effigy  portrayed 
Who  turned  the  key  to  ope  the  exalted  love, 
And  in  her  mien  this  language  had  impressed, 
"  Ecce  ancilla  Dei,"  as  distinctly 
As  any  figure  stamps  itself  in  wax. 


I  moved  my  feet  from  where  I  had  been  standing, 
To  examine  near  at  hand  another  story. 
Which  after  Michal  glimmered  white  upon  me. 

There  the  high  glory  of  the  Roman  Prince 
Was  chronicled,  whose  great  Iteneficence 
Moved  Gregory  to  his  great  victory ; 

'T  is  of  the  Emperor  Trajan  1  am  speaking ; 
And  a  poor  widow  at  his  bridle  stood. 
In  attitude  of  weeping  and  of  grief. 

Around  about  him  seemed  it  thronged  and  full 
Of  cavaliers,  and  the  eagles  in  the  gold 
Above  them  visibly  in  the  wind  were  moving. 

The  wretched  woman  in  the  midst  of  these 

Seemed  to  be  saying :  "  Give  me  vengeance,  Lord, 
For  my  dead  son,  for  whom  my  heart  is  breaking." 

And  he  to  answer  her :  "  Now  wait  until 

I  shall  return."    And  she :  "  My  Lord,"  like  one 
In  whom  grief  is  impatient,  "  shouldst  thou  not 


Return."    And  he :  "  Who  shall  be  where  1  am 

Will  give  it  thee."    And  she ;  "  Good  deed  of  others 
What  boots  it  thee,  if  thou  neglect  thine  own  ? " 

Whence  he  :  "  Now  comfort  thee,  for  it  behoves  me 
That  I  discharge  my  duty  ere  1  move  ; 
Justice  so  wills  and  pity  doth  retain  me." 
«#•***♦*#*•«♦# 

Whoe'er  of  pencil  master  was  or  stile, 

That  could  portray  the  shades  and  traits  which  there 
Would  cause  each  subtile  genius  to  admire  ? 

Dead  seemed  the  dead ;  the  living  seemed  alive  I 


y(^$i<^r 


Withouten  which  in  this  rough  wilderness 
Backward  goes  he  who  toils  most  to  advance. 

And  even  as  we  the  trespass  we  have  suffered 
Pardon  in  one  another,  pardon  thou 
Benignly,  and  regard  not  our  desert. 

Our  virtue,  which  is  easily  o'ercome, 

Put  not  to  proof  with  the  old  Adversary, 
But  thou  from  him  who  spurs  it  so,  deliver. 

This  last  petition  verily,  dear  Lord, 

Not  for  ourselves  is  made,  who  need  it  not. 

But  for  their  sake  who  have  remained  behind  us.' 


m 


O,"  ASKED  I  him,  "  art  thou  not  Oderisi, 
Agobbio's  honour,  and  honour  of  that  art 
Which  is  in  Paris  called  illuminating  ? " 

"  Brother,"  said  he,  "  more  laughing  are  the  leaves 
Touched  by  the  brush  of  Franco  Bolognese ; 
All  his  the  honour  now,  and  mine  in  part. 

in  sooth  1  had  not  been  so  courteous 

While  1  was  living,  for  the  great  desire 
Of  excellence,  on  which  my  heart  was  bent. 

Here  of  such  pride  b  paid  the  forfeiture ; 
And  yet  1  should  not  be  here  were  it  not 
That,  having  power  to  sin,  1  turned  to  GOD. 

O  thou  vain  glory  of  the  human  powers, 

How  little  green  upon  thy  summit  lingers. 
If 't  be  not  followed  by  an  age  of  grossness ! 

In  painting  Cimabue  thought  that  he 

Should  hold  the  field,  now  Giotto  has  the  cry, 
So  that  the  other's  fame  is  growing  dim. 

So  has  one  Guido  from  the  other  taken 

The  glory  of  our  tongue,  and  he  perchance 

Is  born,  who  from  the  nest  shall  chase  them  both. 

Naught  is  this  mundane  rumour  but  a  breath 

Of  wind,  that  comes  now  this  way  and  now  that 
And  changes  name,  because  it  changes  side." 


THE 
ANGEL  or  PEACE 


■HOWARDS  us  came  the  being  beautiful 
Vested  in  white,  and  in  his  countenance 
Such  as  appears  the  tremulous  morning  star. 
His  arms  he  opened,  and  opened  then  his  wings ; 

"  Come,"  said  he,  "  near  at  hand  here  are  the  steps, 

This  way  goes  he  who  goeth  after  peace." 

His  aspect  had  bereft  me  of  my  sight, 

So  that  I  turned  me  back  unto  my  Teacher, 
Like  one  who  goeth  as  his  hearing  guides  liim. 

And  as  the  harbinger  of  early  dawn 

The  air  of  May  doth  move  and  breathe  out  fragrance, 
Impregnate  all  with  herbage  and  with  llowers, 

So  did  1  feel  a  breeze  strike  in  the  midst 

My  front,  and  felt  the  moving  of  the  plumes 
That  breathed  around  an  odour  of  ambrosia. 


WE  passed  along,  athwart  the  twilight  peering 
Forward  as  far  as  ever  eye  could  stretch 
Against  the  sunbeams  serotine  and  lucent ; 
And,  lo !  by  slow  degrees  a  smoke  approached 
In  our  direction,  sombre  as  the  night. 
Nor  was  there  place  to  hide  one's  self  therefrom. 
This  of  our  eyes  and  the  pure  air  bereft  us. 


Darkness  of  hell,  and  of  a  night  deprived 
Of  every  planet  under  a  poor  sky, 
As  much  as  may  be  tenebrous  with  cloud, 

Ne'er  made  unto  my  sight  so  thick  a  veil. 

As  did  that  smoke  which  there  enveloped  us, 
Nor  to  the  feeling  of  so  rough  a  texture. 

Voices  I  heard,  and  every  one  appeared 

To  supplicate  for  peace  and  misericord 

The  Lamb  of  God  who  takes  away  our  sins. 

Still  "  Agnus  Dei  "  their  exordium  was ; 

One  word  there  was  in  all  and  metre  one, 
So  that  all  harmony  appeared  among  them. 

Remember,  Reader,  if  e'er  in  the  Alps 

A  mist  o'ertook  thee,  through  which  thou  couldst  see 
Not  otherwise  than  through  its  membrane  mole, 

How,  when  the  vapours  humid  and  condensed 
Begin  to  dissipate  themselves,  the  sphere 
Of  the  sun  feebly  enters  in  among  them, 


And  thy  imagination  will  be  swift 

In  coming  to  perceive  how  I  re-saw 
The  sun  at  first,  that  was  already  setting. 

Thus,  to  the  faithful  footsteps  of  my  Master 

Mating  mine  own,  I  issued  from  that  cloud 

To  rays  already  dead  on  the  low  shores. 


"IN  days  when  the  good  Titus,  with  the  aid 
1       Of  the  supremest  King,  avenged  the  wounds 

Whence  issued  forth  the  blood  by  Judas  sold, 
Under  the  name  that  most  endures  and  honours, 

Was  1  on  earth,"  that  spirit  made  reply, 

"  Greatly  renowned,  but  not  with  faith  as  yet. 
My  vocal  spirit  was  so  sweet  that  Rome 

Me,  a  Thoulousian,  drew  unto  herself. 

Where  1  deserved  to  deck  my  brows  with  myrtle. 
Statius  the  people  name  me  still  on  earth  ; 

1  sang  of  Thebes,  and  then  of  great  Achilles ; 

But  on  the  way  fell  with  my  second  burden. 
The  seeds  unto  my  ardour  were  the  sparks 

Of  that  celestial  tlame  which  heated  me, 

Whereby  more  than  a  tiiousand  have  been  tired ; 
Of  the  /Eneid  speak  1,  which  to  me 

A  mother  was,  and  was  my  nurse  in  song ; 

Without  this  weighed  1  not  a  drachma's  weight. 
And  to  have  lived  upon  the  earth  what  time 

Virgilius  lived,  I  would  accept  one  sun 

More  than  !  must  ere  issuing  from  my  ban." 


Ere  by  the  vanquished  shadow  the  sun's  setting 
Behind  us  we  perceived,  I  and  my  Sages. 

And  ere  in  all  its  parts  immeasurable 

The  horizon  of  one  aspect  had  become, 
And  Night  her  boundless  dispensation  held, 

Each  of  us  of  a  stair  had  made  his  bed  ; 

Because  the  nature  of  the  mount  took  from  us 
The  power  of  climbing,  more  than  the  delight. 

Even  as  in  ruminating  passive  grow 

The  goats  who  have  been  swift  and  venturesome 
Upon  the  mountain-tops  ere  they  were  fed, 

Hushed  in  the  shadow,  while  the  sun  is  hot. 

Watched  by  the  herdsman,  who  upon  his  staff 
Is  leaning,  and  in  leaning  tendeth  them ; 

And  as  the  shepherd,  lodging  out  of  doors, 
Passes  the  night  beside  his  quiet  flock. 
Watching  that  no  wild  beast  may  scatter  it, 

Such  at  that  hour  were  we,  all  three  of  us, 

I  like  the  goat,  and  like  the  herdsman  they, 
Begirt  on  this  side  and  on  that  by  rocks. 

Little  could  there  be  seen  of  things  without ; 

But  through  that  little  1  beheld  the  stars. 


^f^ 


■m  ^''AcT)ION 
(ONTE/\PL/^ 


T  was  the  hour,  1  think,  when  from  the 
East 
First     on     the    mountain     Cytherea 

beamed, 
Who  with  the  fire  of  love  seems  always 
burning ; 
Youthful  and  beautiful  in  dreams,  methought 
I  saw  a  lady  walking  in  a  meadow, 
Gathering  flowers ;  and  singing  she  was 
saying : 
"  Know  whosoever  may  my  name  demand 
That  1  am  Leah,  and  go  moving  round 
My  beauteous  hands  to  make  myself  a 
garland. 
To  please  me  at  the  mirror  here  1  deck  me. 
But  never  does  my  sister  Rachel  leave 
Her  looking-glass,  and  sitteth  all  day 
long. 
To  see  her  beauteous  eyes  as  eager  is  she, 
As  I  am  to  adorn  me  with  my  hands ; 
Her,  seeing,  and  me,  doing,  satisfies." 


Which  of  itself  alone  this  land  produces. 
Until  rejoicing  come  the  beauteous  eyes 

Which  weeping  caused  me  to  come  unto  thee, 
Thou  canst  sit  down  and  thou  canst  walk  among  them. 
Expect  no  more  or  word  or  sign  from  me ; 

Free  and  upright  and  sound  is  thy  free-will, 
And  error  were  it  not  to  do  its  bidding ; 
Thee  o'er  thyself  I  therefore  crown  and  mitre ! " 


EAGER   already   to  search  in   and 
round 
The  heavenly  forest,  dense  and 

living  green, 
Which  tempered  to  the  eyes  the 
new-bom  day, 
Withouten  more  delay  I  left  the  bank. 
Taking  the  level  country  slowly, 

slowly 
Over  the  soil   that  everywhere 
breathes  fragrance. 
A  softly-breathing  air,  that  no  mutation 
Had  in  itself,  upon  the  forehead 

smote  me 
No  heavier  blow  than  of  a  gentle 
wind, 
Whereat  the  branches,  lightly  tremulous, 
Did  all  of  them  lx)w  downward 

toward  that  side 
Where  its  first  shadow  casts  the 
Holy  Mountain ; 

TWJrm 


'i^^-^'m 


Yet  not  from  their  upright  direction  swayed, 

So  that  the  little  birds  upon  their  tops 

Should  leave  the  practice  of  each  art  of  theirs ; 
But  with  full  ravishment  the  hour  of  prime, 

Singing,  received  they  in  the  midst  of  leaves  ; 

That  ever  bore  a  burden  to  their  rhymes, 
Such  as  from  branch  to  branch  goes  gathering  on 

Through  the  pine  forest  on  the  shores  of  Chiassi, 

When  Eolus  unlooses  the  Sirocco. 
Already  my  slow  steps  had  carried  me 

Into  the  ancient  wood  so  far,  that  I 

Could  not  perceive  where  1  had  entered  it. 
And,  lo !  my  further  course  a  stream  cut  otT, 

Which  tow'rd  the  left  hand  with  its  little  waves 

Bent  down  the  grass  that  on  its  margin  sprang. 
All  waters  that  on  earth  most  limpid  are 

Would  seem  to  have  within  themselves  some  mixture 

Compared  with  that  which  nothing  doth  conceal. 
Although  it  moves  on  with  a  brown,  brown  current. 

Under  the  shade  perpetual,  that  never 

Ray  of  the  sun  lets  in,  nor  of  the  moon. 

*«**♦♦**•***♦•* 
From  the  most  holy  water  I  returned 

Regenerate,  in  the  manner  of  new  trees 

That  are  renewed  with  a  new  foliage, 
Pure  and  disposed  to  moinit  unto  the  stars. 


AND  there  apj->eared  to  me  (even  as  appears 
Suddenly  something  that  doth  turn  aside 
Through  very  wonder  every  otlier  tiiought) 
A  lady  all  alone,  who  went  along 

Singing  and  culling  floweret  after  floweret, 
With  which  her  pathway  was  all  painted 
over. 
"  Ah,  beauteous  lady,  who  in  rays  of  love 

Dost  warm  thyself,  if  1  may  trust  to  looks. 
Which  the  heart's  witnesses  are  wont  to 
be. 
May  the  desire  come  unto  thee  to  draw 

Near  to  this  river's  bank,"  I  said  to  her, 
"  So  much  that  1  may  hear  what  thou  art 
singing. 
Thou  makest  me  remember  where  and  what 
Proserpina  that  moment  was  when  lost 
Her    mother    her,  and    she    herself    the 
Spring." 
As  turns  herself,  with  feet  together  pressed 

And  to  the  ground  a  lady  who  is  dancing. 
And  hardly  puts  one  foot  Ivfore  the  other. 


ow^er^ 


On  the  vermilion  and  the  yellow  flowerets, 

She  turned  towards  me,  not  in  other  wise 
Than  maiden  who  her  modest  eyes  casts  down  ; 
And  my  entreaties  made  to  be  content. 

So  near  approaching,  that  the  dulcet  sound  , 

Came  unto  me  together  with  its  meaning.  , 

As  soon  as  she  was  where  the  grasses  are  j 

Bathed  by  the  waters  of  the  beauteous  river  I 

To  lift  her  eyes  she  granted  me  the  boon.  ; 

1  do  not  think  there  shone  so  great  a  light  ! 

Under  the  lids  of  Venus,  when  transfixed  i 

By  her  own  son,  beyond  his  usual  custom  !  j 

Erect  upon  the  other  bank  she  smiled,  ; 

Bearing  full  many  colours  in  her  hands,  j 

Which  that  high  land  produces  without  seed. 
«♦«♦«»     *•«•     ••     «•*« 
And  even  as  Nymphs,  that  wandered  all  alone 
Among  the  sylvan  shadows,  sedulous 
One  to  avoid  and  one  to  see  the  sun, 
She  then  against  the  stream  moved  onward,  going 
Along  the  bank  and  I  abreast  of  her. 
Her  little  steps  with  little  steps  attending 
Between  her  steps  and  mine  were  not  a  hundred. 
When  equally  the  margins  gave  a  turn 
In  such  a  way,  that  to  the  East  1  faced. 
Nor  even  thus  our  way  continued  far 

Before  the  lady  wholly  turned  herself 
Unto  me,  saying,  "  Brother,  look  and  listen !  " 
And,  lo !  a  sudden  lustre  ran  across 

On  every  side  athwart  the  spacious  forest, 
Such  that  it  made  me  doubt  if  it  were  lightning. 
But  since  the  lightning  ceases  as  it  comes, 

And  that  continuing  brightened  more  and  more, 
Within  my  thoughts  1  said,  "  What  thing  is  this?  " 
And  a  delicious  melody  there  ran 
Along  the  luminous  air. 


THE '  PRO; 
CHV^RCH 


CElfSS  .  lO' 


•or  '  THE 


'TR  IVAVP/ 


N' 


[  OW  Helicon  must  needs  pour  forth 

for  me, 
And  with  her  choir  Urania  must 

assist  me, 
To  put  in  verse  things  difficult  to 

think. 
A  little  farther  on,  seven  trees  of  gold 
In  semblance  the  long  space  still 

intervening 
Between  ourselves  and  them  did 

counterfeit ; 
But  when  !  had  approached  so  near  to 

them 
The  common  object,  which  the 

sense  deceives. 
Lost  not  by  distance  any  of  its 

marks, 
The    faculty   that    lends    discourse    to 

reason 
Did  apprehend   that  they  were 

candle-sticks, 


KT    IQNIS  'INVOJLVE,NS,=  _ 

:T  aPLENDOR    IN   CIRCVITV   E JVS  ^^ 


And  in  the  voices  of  the  song  "  Hosanna !  " 

Above  them  flamed  the  harness  beautiful, 

Far  brighter  than  the  moon  in  the  serene 
Of  midnight,  at  the  middle  of  her  month. 

I  turned  me  round,  with  admiration  filled, 

To  good  Virgilius,  and  he  answered  me 
With  visage  no  less  full  of  wonderment. 

Then  back  I  turned  my  face  to  those  high  things, 

Which  moved  themselves  towards  us  so  sedately, 
They  had  been  distanced  by  new-wedded  brides. 

Then  saw  1  people,  as  behind  their  leaders, 

Coming  behind  them,  garmented  in  white. 
And  such  a  whiteness  never  was  on  earth. 

And  1  beheld  the  flamelets  onward  go, 

Leaving  behind  themselves  the  air  depicted. 
And  they  of  trailing  pennons  had  the  semblance, 

So  that  it  overhead  remained  distinct 

With  sevenfold  lists,  all  of  them  of  the  colours 
Whence  the  sun's  bow  is  made,  and  Delia's  girdle. 

These  standards  to  the  rearward  longer  were 

Than  was  my  sight ;  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
Ten  paces  were  the  outermost  apart. 

Under  so  fair  a  heaven  as  I  describe 

The  four  and  twenty  Elders,  two  by  two. 
Came  on  incoronate  with  flower-de-luce. 

They  all  of  them  were  singing :  "  Blessed  thou 

Among  the  daughters  of  Adam  art,  and  blessed 
Forevermore  shall  be  thy  loveliness." 

After  the  flowers  and  other  tender  grasses 

In  front  of  me  upon  the  other  margin 
Were  disencumbered  of  that  race  elect. 

Even  as  in  heaven  star  followeth  after  star, 

There  came  close  after  them  four  animals, 
Incoronate  each  one  with  verdant  leaf. 

Plumed  with  six  wings  was  every  one  of  them, 

The  plumage  full  of  eyes ;  the  eyes  of  Argus 
If  they  were  living  would  be  such  as  these. 

Reader!  to  trace  their  forms  no  more  1  waste 

My  rhymes ;  for  other  spendings  press  me  so. 
That  I  in  this  cannot  be  prodigal. 


ERE  now  have  1  beheld,  as  day  began, 
The  eastern  hemisphere  all  tinged  with  rose. 
And  the  other  heaven  with  fair  serene  adorned ; 
And  the  sun's  face  uprising,  overshadowed 

So  that  by  tempering  influence  of  vapours 
For  a  long  interval  the  eye  sustained  it ; 
Thus  in  the  bosom  of  a  cloud  of  flowers 

Which  from  these  hands  angelical  ascended, 
And  downward  fell  again  inside  and  out. 
Over  her  snow-white  veil  with  olive  cinct 

Appeared  a  lady  under  a  green  mantle, 
Vested  in  colour  of  the  living  flame. 
And  my  own  spirit,  that  already  now 

So  long  a  time  had  been,  that  in  her  presence 
Trembling  with  awe  it  had  not  stood  abashed, 
Without  more  knowledge  having  by  mine  eyes. 

Through  occult  virtue  that  from  her  proceeded 
Of  ancient  love  the  mighty  influence  felt. 


Although  the  veil  that  from  her  head  descended. 
Encircled  with  the  foliage  of  Minerva, 
Did  not  permit  her  to  appear  distinctly, 

In  attitude  still  royally  majestic 

Continued  she,  like  unto  one  who  speaks, 
And  keeps  his  warmest  utterance  in  reserve : 

"  Look  at  me  well ;  in  sooth,  1  'm  Beatrice !  " 


THE 

A5CENT  TO 

PARADISE 


THE  glory  of  Him  who  moveth  everything 
Doth  penetrate  the  universe   and  shine 
In  one  part  more  and  in  another  less. 
Within  that   heaven    which   most   his  light 
receives 
Was  I,  and  things  beheld  which  to  repeat 
Nor  knows,  nor  can,   who  from   above 
descends ; 
Because  in  drawing  near  to  its  desire 
Our  intellect  ingulphs  itself  so  far, 
That  after  it  the  memory  cannot  go. 
Truly  whatever  of  the  holy  realm 

I  had  the  power  to  treasure  in  my  mind 
Shall  now  become  the  subject  of  my  song. 
O  good  Apollo,  for  this  last  emprise 

Make  of  me  such  a  vessel  of  thy  power 


As  giving  the  beloved  laurel  asks ! 
O  power  divine,  lend'st  thou  thyself  to  me 

So  that  the  shadow  of  the  blessed  realm 

Stamped  in  my  brain  I  can  make  manifest,   , 
Thou  'It  see  me  come  unto  thy  darling  tree,  j| 

And  crown  myself  thereafter  with  those  leaves  ' 

Of  which  the  theme  and  thou  shalt  make  me  worthy. 

O  ye,  who  in  some  pretty  little  boat,  ', 

Eager  to  listen,  have  been  following  . 

Behind  my  ship,  that  singing  sails  along,  \ 

Turn  back  to  look  again  upon  your  shores ;  ^ 

Do  not  put  out  to  sea,  lest  peradventure  ■ 

»         In  losing  me,  you  might  yourselves  be  lost.  t 

The  sea  I  sail  has  never  yet  been  passed ;  ' 
Minerva  breathes,  and  pilots  me  Apollo, 
And  Muses  nine  point  out  to  me  the  Bears. 

Ye  other  few  who  have  the  neck  uplifted  * 

Betimes  to  th'  bread  of  Angels  upon  which  i 

One  liveth  here  and  grows  not  sated  by  it,  \ 

Well  may  you  launch  upon  the  deep  salt-sea  | 

Your  vessel,  keeping  still  my  wake  before  you  ' 

Upon  the  water  that  grows  smooth  again.  i 

i 

It  seemed  to  me  a  cloud  encompassed  us,  | 

Luminous,  dense,  consolidate  and  bright  j 

As  adamant  on  which  the  sun  is  striking.  ! 

Into  itself  did  the  eternal  pearl 

Receive  us,  even  as  water  doth  receive 
A  ray  of  light,  remaining  still  unbroken. 


SUCH  as  through  polished  and  transparent  glass, 
Or  waters  crystalline  and  undisturbed, 
But  not  so  deep  as  that  their  bed  be  lost. 

Come  back  again  the  outline  of  our  faces 

So  feeble,  that  a  pearl  on  forehead  white 
Comes  not  less  speedily  unto  our  eyes : 

Such  saw  1  many  faces  prompt  to  speak 
So  that  1  ran  in  error  opposite 
To  that  which  kindled  love  'twixt  man  and  fountain. 

As  soon  as  I  became  aware  of  them, 

Bteeming  them  as  mirrored  semblances 

To  see  of  whom  they  were  mine  eyes  1  turned. 

Then  I  unto  the  shade  that  seemed  most  wishful 
To  speak  directed  me,  and  I  began. 
As  one  whom  too  great  eagerness  bewilders ; 

"  O  well-created  spirit,  who  in  the  rays 

Of  life  eternal  dost  the  sweetness  taste 
Which  being  untasted  ne'er  is  comprehended, 

Grateful  't  will  be  to  me,  if  thou  content  me 

Both  with  thy  name  and  with  thy  destiny." 
Whereat  she  promptly  and  with  laughing  eyes : 

"  Our  charity  doth  never  shut  the  doors 
Against  a  just  desire,  except  as  one 
Who  wills  that  all  her  court  be  like  herself. 


I  was  a  virgin  sister  in  the  world ; 

And  if  thy  mind  doth  contemplate  me  well, 

The  being  more  fair  will  not  conceal  me  from  thee. 

But  thou  Shalt  recognise  I  am  Piccarda, 

Who,  stationed  here  among  these  other  blessed. 
Myself  am  blessed  in  the  slowest  sphere. 

Of  perfect  life  and  merit  high  in  heaven 

There  is  a  lady  o'er  us,  by  whose  rule 

Down  in  your  world  they  vest  and  veil  themselves, 

That  until  death  they  may  both  watch  and  sleep 
Beside  that  Spouse  who  every  vow  accepts 
Which  charity  conformeth  to  his  pleasure. 

To  follow  her,  in  girlhood  from  the  world 
1  fled  and  in  her  habit  shut  myself. 

And  pledged  me  to  the  pathway  of  her  sect. 

Then  men  accustomed  to  the  evil  more 

Than  unto  good,  from  the  sweet  cloister  tore  me  ; 

God  knows  what  afterward  my  life  became." 

Thus  unto  me  she  spake,  and  then  began 

"  Ave  Maria  "  singing,  and  in  singing 

Vanished,  as  through  deep  water  something  heavy. 


S  E  Lr-dONriDE  N  CE 


FOR  very  low  among  the  fools  is  he 
Who  affirms  without  distinction,  or  denies, 
As  well  in  one  as  in  the  other  case ; 

Because  it  happens  that  full  often  bends 

Current  opinion  in  the  false  direction, 
And  then  the  feelings  bind  the  intellect. 

Far  more  than  uselessly  he  leaves  the  shore 

(Since  he  returneth  not  the  same  he  went) 
Who  fishes  for  the  truth  and  has  no  skill. 

Nor  yet  shall  people  be  too  confident 

In  judging,  even  as  he  is  who  doth  count 
The  com  in  field  or  ever  it  be  ripe. 

For  I  have  seen  all  winter  long  the  thorn 

First  show  itself  intractable  and  fierce, 
And  after  bear  the  rose  upon  its  top ; 

And  I  have  seen  a  ship  direct  and  swift    • 

Run  o'er  the  sea  throughout  its  course  entire, 

•  ;,...;:      To  perish  at  the  harbour's  mouth  at  last. 


And  in  her  lullaby  the  language  used 

That  first  delights  the  fathers  and  the  mothers ; 

Another,  drawing  tresses  from  her  distaff, 
Told  o'er  among  her  family  the  tales 
Of  Trojans  and  of  Fesole  and  Rome. 

With  all  these  families,  and  others  with  them, 
Florence  beheld  I  in  so  great  repose 
That  no  occasion  had  she  whence  to  weep ; 

With  all  these  families  beheld  so  just 

And  glorious  her  people,  that  the  lily 
Never  upon  the  spear  was  placed  reversed, 

Nor  by  division  was  vermilion  made. 


'"T^HOU  Shalt  abandon  everything  beloved 
1      Most  tenderly,  and  this  the  arrow  is 

Which  first  the  bow  of  banishment  shoots 
forth. 
Thou  Shalt  have  proof  how  savoureth  of  salt 

The  bread  of  others,  and  how  hard  a  road 
The  going  down  and  up  another's  stairs. 
And  that  which  most  shall  weigh  upon  thy  shoulders 
Will  be  the  bad  and  foolish  company 
With  which  into  this  valley  thou  shall  fall ; 
For  all  ingrate,  all  mad  and  impious 

Will  they  become  against  thee ;   but  soon 

after 
They,  and  not  thou,  shall  have  the  foiehead 
scarlet." 


FOR  saidst  thou  :  "  Bom  a  man  is  on  the  shore 
Of  Indus,  and  is  none  there  who  can  speak 
Of  Christ,  nor  who  can  read,  nor  who  can  write ; 

And  all  his  inclinations  and  his  actions 

Are  good,  so  far  as  human  reason  sees, 
Without  a  sin  in  life  or  in  discourse: 

He  dieth  unbaptized  and  without  faith  ; 

Where  is  this  justice  that  condemneth  him  ? 
Where  is  his  fault,  if  he  do  not  believe  ? " 

Now  who  art  thou  that  on  the  Ivnch  wouidst  sit 
In  judgment  at  a  thousand  miles  away. 
With  the  short  vision  of  a  single  span  ? 

•     •     •    •    •     Unto  this  kingdom  never 

Ascended  one  who  had  not  faith  in  Christ, 
Before  or  since  he  to  the  tree  was  nailed. 

But  look  thou,  many  crying  are,  "  Christ,  Christ !  " 
Who  at  the  judgment  shall  Iv  far  less  near 
To  Him  than  some  shall  be  who  knew  not  Christ. 

Such  Christians  shall  the  Ethiop  condemn, 

When  the  two  companies  shall  be  divided, 
The  one  forever  rich,  the  other  poor. 

What  to  your  kings  may  not  the  Persians  say. 

When  they  that  volume  opened  shall  lx;hold 
In  which  are  written  down  all  their  dispraises  ? 


"  A  ND  therefore,  ere  thou  enter  farther  in, 
ii  Look  down  once  more,  and  see  how  vast  a  world 
Thou  hast  already  put  beneath  thy  feet ; " 

I  with  my  sight  returned  through  one  and  all 

The  sevenfold  spheres,  and  I  beheld  this  globe 
Such  that  I  smiled  at  its  ignoble  semblance ; 

I  saw  the  daughter  of  Latona  shining 

Without  that  shadow,  which  to  me  was  cause 
That  once  I  had  believed  her  rare  and  dense. 

The  aspect  of  thy  son,  Hyperion, 

Here  I  sustained,  and  saw  how  move  themselves 
Around  and  near  him  Maia  and  Dione. 

Thence  there  appeared  the  temperateness  of  Jove 
'Twixt  son  and  father,  and  to  me  was  clear 
The  change  that  of  their  whereabout  they  make ; 

And  all  the  seven  made  manifest  to  me 

How  great  they  are,  and  eke  how  swift  they  are, 
And  how  they  are  in  distant  habitations. 

The  threshing-floor  that  maketh  us  so  proud, 
To  me  revolving  with  the  eternal  Twins, 
Was  all  apparent  made  from  hill  to  harbour ! 


WITHIN  the  crystal  which,  around  the 
world 
Revolving,  bears  the  name  of  its  dear 

leader. 
Under  whom  every  wickedness  lay  dead, 
Coloured  like  gold,  on  which  the  sunshine 
gleams, 
A  stairway  1  beheld  to  such  a  height 
Uplifted,  that  my  eye  pursued  it  not. 
Likewise  beheld  I  down  the  steps  descending 
So  many  splendours,  that  1  thought  each 

light 
That  in  the  heaven  appears  was  there 
diffused. 
And  as  accordant  with  their  natural  custom 
The  rooks  together  at  the  break  of  day 
Bestir  themselves  to  warm  their  feathers 
cold; 
Then  some  of  them  fly  off  without  return. 
Others  come  back  to  where  they  started 

from. 
And  others,  wheeling  round,  still  keep  at 
home; 
Such  fashion  it  appeared  to  me  was  there 
Within  the  sparkling  that  together  came. 


Compared  unto  the  sounding  of  that  lyre 

Wherewith  was  crowned  the  Sapphire  beautiful, 
Which  gives  the  clearest  heaven  its  sapphire  hue. 

"  I  am  Angelic  Love,  that  circle  round 

The  joy  sublime  which  breathes  from  out  the  womb 
That  was  the  hostelry  of  our  Desire  ; 

And  I  shall  circle,  Lady  of  Heaven,  while 

Thou  followest  thy  Son,  and  mak'st  diviner 

The  sphere  supreme,  because  thou  enterest  there." 

Thus  did  the  circulated  melody 

Seal  itself  up ;  and  all  the  other  lights 
Were  making  to  resound  the  name  of  Mary. 


THEN  light  I  saw  in  fashion  of  a  river 
Fulvid  with  its  effulgence,  'twixt  two 

banks 
Depicted  with  an  admirable  spring. 
Out  of  this  river  issued  living  sparks, 

And  on  all  sides  sank  down  into  the 

flowers, 
Like  unto  rubies  that  are  set  in  gold. 

O  splendour  of  GOD !  by  means  of  which 
1  saw 
The  lofty  triumph  of  the  realm  vera- 
cious. 
Give  me  the  power  to  say  how  it  1 
saw! 
There  is  a  light  above  which  visible 

Makes  the  Creator  unto  every  creature, 
Who  only  in  beholding  Him  has  peace, 
And  it  expands  itself  in  circular  form 
To  such  extent  that  its  circumference 
Would  be  too  large  a  girdle  for  the  sun. 


V#3 


^Mgi 


The  semblance  of  it  is  all  made  of  rays 

Reflected  from  the  top  of  Primal  Motion, 
Which  takes  therefrom  vitality  and  power. 

And  as  a  hill  in  water  at  its  base 

Mirrors  itself,  as  if  to  see  its  beauty 

When  affluent  most  in  verdure  and  in  flowers, 

So  ranged  aloft  all  round  about  the  light 

Mirrored  1  saw  in  more  ranks  than  a  thousand 
All  who  above  there  have  from  us  returned. 

And  if  the  lowest  row  collect  within  it 

So  great  a  light,  how  vast  the  amplitude 
Is  of  this  Rose  in  its  extremest  leaves ! 

My  vision  in  the  vastness  and  the  height 
Lost  not  itself,  but  comprehended  all 
The  quantity  and  quality  of  that  gladness. 

There  near  and  far  nor  add  nor  take  away ; 

For  there  where  God  immediately  doth  govern, 
The  natural  law  in  naught  is  relevant. 

Into  the  yellow  of  the  Rose  Eternal 

That  spreads  and  multiplies  and  breathes  an  odour 
Of  praise  unto  the  ever-vernal  Sun, 

As  one  who  silent  is  and  fain  would  speak, 
Me  Beatrice  drew  on,  and  said,  "  Behold 
Of  the  white  stoles  how  vast  the  convent  is ! 

Behold  how  vast  the  circuit  of  our  City ! 
Behold  our  seats  so  filled  to  overflowing. 
That  here  henceforward  are  few  people  wanting !  " 


1  Ae  Vviiif  e  K^se 


N  fashion  then  as  of  a  snow-white  rose 
Displayed  itself  to  nie  the  saintly  host, 
Whom  Christ  in  his  own  blood  had  made  his 
bride, 

But  the  other  host,  that  flying  sees  and  sings 
The  glory  of  Him  who  doth  enamour  it, 
And  the  goodness  that  created  it  so  noble, 

Even  as  a  swarm  of  bees,  that  sinks  in  flowers 
One  moment,  and  the  next  returns  again 
To  where  its  labour  is  to  sweetness  turned, 

Sank  into  the  great  flower,  that  is  adorned 

With  leaves  so  many,  and  thence  reascended 
To  where  its  love  abideth  evermore. 

Their  faces  had  they  all  of  living  flame. 

And  wings  of  gold,  and  all  the  rest  so  white 
No  snow  unto  that  limit  doth  attain. 


ND  "  She,  where  is  she  ?  "  instantly  I  said  ; 
Whence  he :  "  To  put  an  end  to  my  desire, 
Me  Beatrice  hath  sent  from  mine  own  place. 

And  if  thou  lookest  up  to  the  third  round 

Of  the  first  rank,  again  shalt  thou  behold  her 
Upon  the  throne  her  merits  have  assigned  her. 

Without  reply  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes, 

And  saw  her,  as  she  made  herself  a  crown 
Reflecting  from  herself  the  eternal  rays. 

Not  from  that  region  which  the  highest  thunders 
Is  any  mortal  eye  so  far  removed, 
in  whatsoever  sea  it  deepest  sinks, 


As  there  from  Beatrice  my  sight ;  but  this 

Was  nothing  unto  me ;  because  her  image 
Descended  not  to  me  by  medium  blurred. 

"  O  Lady,  thou  in  whom  my  hope  is  strong, 
And  who  for  my  salvation  didst  endure 
In  Hell  to  leave  the  imprint  of  thy  feet. 

Of  whatsoever  things  1  have  beheld. 

As  coming  from  thy  power  and  from  thy  goodness, 
I  recognise  the  virtue  and  the  grace. 

Thou  from  a  slave  hast  brought  me  unto  freedom. 
By  all  those  ways,  by  all  the  expedients, 
Whereby  thou  hadst  the  power  of  doing  it. 

Preserve  towards  me  thy  magnificence, 

So  that  this  soul  of  mine,  which  thou  hast  healed. 
Pleasing  to  thee  be  loosened  from  the  Ixniy." 

Thus  I  implored :  and  she,  so  far  away, 

Smiled,  as  it  seemed,  and  looked  once  more  at  me ; 
Then  unto  the  Eternal  Fountain  turned. 


■  V 


AVEv^AR4A' 


THOU  Virgin  Mother,  daughter  of  thy  Son, 
Humble  and  high  beyond  all  other  creature. 
The  limit  fixed  of  the  eternal  counsel. 

Thou  art  the  one  who  such  nobility 

To  human  nature  gave,  that  its  Creator 
Did  not  disdain  to  make  Himself  its  creature. 

Within  thy  womb  rekindled  was  the  love. 

By  heat  of  which  in  the  eternal  peace 
After  such  wise  this  flower  has  germinated. 

Here  unto  us  thou  art  a  noonday  torch 

Of  charity,  and  below  there  among  mortals 
Thou  art  the  living  fountain-head  of  hope. 

Lady,  thou  art  so  great  and  so  prevailing. 

That  he  who  wishes  grace,  nor  runs  to  thee. 
His  aspirations  without  wings  would  fly. 

Not  only  thy  benignity  gives  succour 

To  him  who  asketh  it,  but  oftentimes 
Forerunneth  of  its  own  accord  the  asking. 

In  thee  compassion  is,  in  thee  is  pity, 

in  thee  magnificence  ;  in  thee  unites 
Whate'er  of  goodness  is  in  any  creature. 

Now  doth  this  man,  who  from  the  lowest  depth 
Of  the  universe  as  far  as  this  has  seen 
One  after  other  the  spiritual  lives. 

Supplicate  thee  through  grace  for  so  much  power 
That  with  his  eyes  he  may  uplift  himself 
Higher  towards  the  uttermost  salvation." 


WILL   BE  ASSESSED    FOR    FA.UUR  ^^^^^^ 

THIS    BOOK   ON   T^E    DAJE   „  ^^^  ^^^^^^ 

rv'rNo''To    *'00    Or^HE    SEVENTH     O.V 
OVERDUE. 


LD21-100™-7,'39(*02») 


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